Franklin High Color Run to honor late teacher

Tuesday

FRANKLIN – The high school's students are making color of a dark situation with year’s second annual Mr. K’s Color Run.

Proceeds from the May 19 5-kilometer race will be put into a scholarship fund named after late physics teacher Keiichi Kitanosono. The recipient will be chosen by the science department.

Born in Japan and educated in the United States, Kitanosono was early into his second year of teaching in 2016. William Bobrowsky, the head of the science department, said that on Nov. 9, 2016, the 25-year-old Kitanosono failed to show up for work. It was later announced that he had died unexpectedly.

The circumstances surrounding his death remain unknown to his former colleagues, but it’s clear he had captured his students' respect in his short time.

“He was the kind of teacher that would walk into the building smiling, and leave the building smiling,” he said. “He stayed really late working with students one on one. He really cared about kids.”

Bobrowsky said that because of Kitanosono's area of expertise, he was always doing live demonstrations of physics in action.

“While he was a relatively new teacher, just in his second year, he was kind of wise beyond his years,” he said. “He engaged kids by doing the science.”

Bobrowsky said he is pleased that the school is putting on an event that will benefit a future student.

“I love the fact that students just really embrace that they’re part of a community and engage in service to the community,” he said. “It’s a tribute to the great students that have here in Franklin.”

To register for Mr. K’s Color Run, visit the Franklin High School website.

Scott Calzolaio can be reached at scalzolaio@wickedlocal.com or 508-734-0389. Follow him on Twitter @ScottCaz